In honor of Shakespeare's 400th birthday in 2016, I present an imagined dialoge of sorts between the Bard's classic characters Prospero and Puck. The final monologues of the grand magician and the impish trickster interact in interesting ways, I think. Here I've combined their epilogues in two variations.
— Andrew Huff
Prospero: Now my charms are all o'erthrown, and what strength I have's mine own, which is most faint.
Puck: If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended.
Prospero: Now 'tis true I must be here confined by you or sent to Naples.
Puck: That you have but slumber'd here while these visions did appear.
Prospero: Let me not, since I have my dukedom got, and pardoned the deceiver, dwell in this bare island by your spell.
Puck: And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream.
Prospero: But release me from my bands With the help of your good hands.
Puck: Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend.
Prospero: Gentle breath of yours my sails must fill, or else my project fails, which was to please.
Puck: And, as I am an honest Puck, if we have unearnéd luck now to 'scape the serpent's tongue.
Prospero: Now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; and my ending is despair. Unless I be relieved by prayer, which pierces so, that it assaults Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
Puck: We will make amends ere long; else the Puck a liar call. So, good night unto you all.
Prospero: As you from crimes would pardoned be, let your indulgence set me free.
Puck: Give me your hands, if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends.
Prospero: Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint.
Puck: If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended.
Prospero: Now 'tis true
I must be here confined by you
Or sent to Naples.
Puck: That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream.
Prospero: Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Puck: Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend.
Prospero: Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please.
Puck: And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearnéd luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue.
Prospero: Now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair.
Puck: We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
Prospero: Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
Puck: So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
Prospero: As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
Thoughts? Comments? Email me at a.huff@me3dia.com.